Logitech G25 Racing Wheel launched

Today at E3, Logitech unveiled its most advanced gaming wheel ever, the Logitech(R) G25 Racing Wheel. The G25 Racing Wheel includes a six-speed gated shifter and clutch pedal; two high-torque force-feedback motors; an 11-inch wheel; and a full 900 degrees of rotation. The wheel, shifter and pedals are made with premium materials, delivering the look and feel of parts from a race car cockpit.

A member of the company's extreme-performance G-series family of peripherals for PC gamers, the Logitech G25 wheel offers advanced features which, until now, could be found only in specialized or custom-made racing simulators that sometimes cost thousands of dollars to assemble. These features include a six-speed gated shifter and clutch pedal; two high-torque force-feedback motors; an 11-inch wheel; and a full 900 degrees of rotation. The wheel, shifter and pedals are made with premium materials such as stainless steel and leather, delivering the look and feel of parts from a race car cockpit.

The Logitech G25 Racing Wheel is the company's first to include a six-speed gated shifter, complete with a push-down reverse gear, offering a new level of control. Now racers can quickly shift into any gear as they decelerate going into turns and accelerate out of them -- rather than cycling through gears sequentially or hoping an automatic transmission selects the most appropriate gear. Advanced driving techniques such as heel-and-toe downshifting are made possible with the included clutch pedal.

Logitech, which has sold more force-feedback wheels than any other company, introduced the industry's first two-motor force-feedback mechanism with the G25 wheel console, providing stronger and more precise feedback. With a second motor, the directional forces are more realistic and evenly distributed throughout the wheel -- drivers will feel everything from the banks in the road to impact with walls, structures and other cars. The two-motor system is also much quieter than other force-feedback solutions.

The 11-inch wheel and the shift knob are wrapped in leather, providing comfortable grips over extended periods of intense racing. The wheel's spokes and two paddle shifters are made of stainless steel, and the pedals consist of stainless-steel faces and steel frames. The pedal platform includes rubber feet that adhere to hardwood floors and a unique carpet grip system, ensuring that the pedals won't shift or slide across the floor during a close race to the finish line. Both the shifter and steering console feature secure clamping systems and can be easily attached to a table or desktop.

The G25 wheel turns 900 degrees lock-to-lock, much like a typical race car, allowing drivers to navigate hairpin turns with greater accuracy. And with anti-backlash gearing, there is no slack in the steering response, making any race a smooth, realistic and quiet experience. The wheel also features 12 programmable buttons -- four buttons on the wheel, and eight buttons and a directional pad on the shifter -- allowing gamers to put the most important controls where they want them.

The Logitech G25 Racing Wheel is compatible with current racing titles, such as rFactor and Live for Speed, as well as several other PC racing titles currently in development. The wheel can also be used with any PlayStation 2 game that is compatible with other Logitech force-feedback wheels, including the Logitech Driving Force and Logitech Driving Force Pro.

For PC and PlayStation 2 games that don't support the six-speed shifting mode, racers can switch the gearbox into sequential shifting mode, which is supported by almost all driving games. A complete list of games that support force-feedback wheels, 900-degree steering, and the six-speed shifter can be found on the G25 product information page at www.logitech.com.

The limited-edition Logitech G25 Racing Wheel will be available online in the U.S. and Europe beginning in October. Its suggested retail price in the U.S. is $299.99.